And louis illmer



No. 6l4,389. Patented Nov. I5, I898.

A. M. HUNTER & L. ILLMEB, In.

THIMBLE THREAD KNIFE. v

(Application filed June 7, 1898.)

(No Model.)

WITNESSES IN VEN 7095 1/97?) 1Z2 Mt I o yio I llnwr', Jr?

ATTORNEYS.

THE NORRIS Firms c0. F'HOTO-LITHO, WASHING'IUN. o. c.

Numb STARS ANNAH M. IIUNTER, OF PARIS, ILLINOIS, AND LOUIS ILLMER, JR,OF IVASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

THIMBLE THREAD-KNIFE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 614,389, dated November15, 1898.

Application filed June '7, 1898- Serial No. 682,822. (No model.)

T0 at whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, ANNAH M. HUNTER, residing at Paris, in the countyof Edgarand State of Illinois, and LOUIS ILLMER, J r., residing atWashington, in the District of Columbia, citizens of the United States,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ThimbleThread-Knives, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

This invention is an improvement in threadcutters designed for use onthe ordinary thimble; and the invention consists in the construction andcombination hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View showing a hand with ourimprovement as in use. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of athimble provided with the improved cutter. Fig. 3 is a detailperspective View of the cutter, and Fig. 4 shows a slightly differentconstruction within the broad principles of our invention.

The thread-cutter is shown as comprising a cutting blade or edge A and aclasp B for securing the same upon a thimble. This clasp is composed ofwire coiled helically to embrace the thimble and to abut against thebead O at the open end of the thimble, as shown. A special feature ofthis coil is that it exceeds a complete circle, so that the front coilor end of. the clasp which carries the blade A, having the cutting edge,will be overlapped in the direction of the axis of the helix by the coilin rear, so the latter will form a bearing for the blade-carrying end ofthe clasp and the latter will not have a tendency to spread open andslip over the bead O of the thimble when pressure is exerted on theblade in cutting a thread. This is Well secured by the preferred form ofclasp shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, wherein several coils are formed inthe wire, because by such construction we get a broader bearing and astronger clasping of the thimble than by the construction shown in Fig.4, wherein the coil is only slightly in excess of a circle providing ashort portion at D, which laps in rear of the portion of the coilcarrying the blade A. It is manifest this construction shown in Fig. 4is within the broad feature of our invention, which includes a claspwhose length exceeds a circle, so its ends may overlap, and for itssimplicity this construction shown in Fig. 4 may in some instances bepreferred.

The blade A extends forward parallel with the axis of the coil andthimble and is preferably an extension of the front end of thecoil-clasp, with its cutting edge A formed in the shape of a V-notch,which bifurcates the end of the blade, forming the upper and lowermembers E and F, with the notch between, which receives the thread andis edged to cut the same in the operation of the device. At its frontend the blade A is provided with a nib or projection f, preferably atthe lower edge of the extremity of the member F, as shown in Figs. 2 and3, whose purpose-is to enter one of the pits or indentations O in thethimble and positively hold the cutter in place, preventing any slippingof same either longitudinally or rotarily on the thimble.

As best shown in- Fig. 2, it is preferred to give the blade a slightinclination upward from its nib f to its juncture with the clasp at f,so the tension and form of the blade, together with the tension of theclasp, will operate to press the nib firmly in the pit C of the thimble,such form of the blade also permitting the ready removal of thethread-cutter when desired. The arrangement of the device on the thimbleand its position when in' use are well shown in Fig. 1.

The clasp being formed of spring-wire may be easily forced onto thethimble and will properly fit several sizes and shapes of thimble, theuse of a helical wire coil enabling the accurate fitting and adjustmentof the clasp to thimbles having different tapers. As shown in Fig. 2,the cutting edge of the member F merges or coincides at its front endwith the thimble, so the latter will operate to accurately guide thethread into contact with the cutting edge, as desired.

It should be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the number ofcoils in the clasp, as the same may be increased or decreased, nor do welimit ourselves to the exact construction shown.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. A thimble thread cutter having a cutting portion and a clasp toembrace the thimble and composed of a helical coil whose length exceedsa circle whereby the clasp overlaps in the direction of the axis of thehelix substantially as set forth.

2. A thimble thread-cutter composed of a clasp and a cutting portion andhaving a nib or projection to engage one of the pits or ingentations ofthe thimble, substantially as set orth.

3. A thimble thread-cutter having a clasp to embrace the thimble and acutting-blade and provided on said blade with a nib or projection toengage in the pit or indentation of the thimble, substantially as setforth.

4. A thimble thread-cutter composed of a clasp to embrace the thimbleand a knife extended from such clasp and having a nib or projection toenter one of the pits or indencations of the thimble, the blade beinginclined or elevated from the said nib to the juncture of the blade withthe clasp, substantially as set forth.

5. The herein-described thread-cutter composed of a clasp in the form ofa coil Whose length exceeds a circle and is adapted to embrace a thimbleand the blade projecting from said clasp and having a nib or projectionto engage in one of the pits or indentations of the thimble,substantially as set forth. 7

6. A thimble thread-cutter having a cutting portion and a clasp composedof a coil of Wire wound helically and adapted to embrace a thimblewhereby the clasp may be adjusted to fit varying sizes and shapes ofthimbles, substantially as set forth.

7. A thimble provided With pits or indentations combined with athread-cutter composed of a clasp consisting of a coil of Wire adaptedto embrace and fit thimbles of different sizes and tapers and extendedat one end to form the cutting portion or blade, the latter having a nibor projection to engage in one of the pits or indentations of thethimble, substantially as set forth.

ANNAl-I M. HUNTER. LOUIS ILLMER, JR.

Vitnesses:

JONAS M. PRESTON, A. J. HUNTER.

